Entry of ‘unfit’ passenger vans banned on motorways

Police register case of tragic bus crash in Kallar Kahar, arrest transport company manager

ISLAMABAD:

In order to avoid road accidents on the motorways, the Ministry of Communications has made the fitness certificate mandatory for entry of passenger vehicles on the motorways.

Minister of Communications Asad Mehmood has issued necessary instructions to the relevant authorities to strictly enforce the decision which follows a tragic road crash on the Motorway (M-2) at Kallar Kahar Salt Range, where a passenger bus crashed due to brake failure resulting in 14 fatalities, 11 serious injuries, and 31 minor injuries.

In the wake of this decision, any passenger vehicle without a fitness certificate would be banned from entering the motorway considering the safety of passengers on motorways.

Inspector General National Highways and Motorway Police Khalid Mahmood met with the Minister of Communications after the accident, and the fitness certificate requirement was introduced as a measure to ensure safer travel for passengers on motorways.

The IG Motorways has been instructed to inform the four provincial transport secretaries about this initiative for ensuring the checking of the fitness certificate of vehicles before entering the motorways.

On the other hand, a case pertaining to the tragic bus crash was registered in the Kallar Kahar police station in Chakwal on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Safdar Hussain of Motorway Police.

The complaint stated that he was on patrolling duty when a speeding bus passed by him and he tried to stop the bus with the help of lights and sirens but the bus driver did not stop the vehicle.

“After a short while the driver of the fateful bus lost control of the vehicle while collided with the vehicles on the opposite side of the road and overturned, killing 12 people and injuring others,” the complainant said, adding that the accident happened due to the alleged negligence of the bus driver.

Meanwhile, a motorway police spokesperson said the manager of the passenger bus company was arrested in the bus accident case and further investigation was underway.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2023.